Category: Masks: A New Generation RPG: Discussion

Playbook Spotlight: The Delinquent

“You’ve got these powers. They’re pretty cool. But there’s a whole shit ton of people trying to tell you what to do with ’em.  You know what they need? More than just someone to say no to them. They need someone to give them as much shit as they give you. And hey! You’re the perfect hero to do it.”

The Delinquent is a troublemaker, a rabblerouser, a clown, and a rebel. For all their bravado, the Delinquent also cares deeply about the team, and what other people say or think. After all, why cause havoc if not for an audience? A lot of their moves play with the team dynamic of Masks in a way that keeps their attention on their teammates, for good or ill.

The Delinquent is inspired by characters such as Quentin Quire (Wolverine and the X-Men), Kid Loki (Young Avengers), Arsenal (Young Justice), and Chase Stein (Runaways), among others.

Playbook Spotlight: The Janus

“Wake up. Breakfast. School. Work at the coffee shop. Home to make dinner for your little brother. Homework. Sleep. Repeat. Day in, day out. It burns you up. You could get out there and make a real difference. Help people. But instead you’re stuck, here in this life. Trapped in this cage. That is…until you put on the mask. And then, you’re free. Or at least, so you pretend.”

The Janus is the only playbook in Masks that is absolutely required to have a secret identity, because it’s all about the tension of living two lives and balancing them. Often unsuccessfully. The Janus has a number of obligations in their civilian life, anything from schoolwork to jobs to taking care of family to dating someone, and those obligations have a way of interfering with their superheroic exploits. But the Janus can draw strength from their duality, in a way other playbooks can’t. 

The Janus is inspired by such characters as Spider-Man (both Miles Morales and Peter Parker), Kamala Khan/Ms. Marvel, Artemis (Young Justice), and Jaime Reyes/Blue Beetle (Young Justice). 

Playbook Spotlight: The Legacy 

“You’re the latest in a storied heroic lineage. Whether or not you’re biologically related to your predecessors doesn’t matter now; you’re part of a family that shares a name and a cause. And everybody is watching and waiting to see if you’ve got what it takes to uphold the family name. No pressure, right?”

The Legacy is just the latest in a long line of heroes sharing their name and their cause. Expectations are high for the Legacy, both from within the family, and from the rest of the world. But just because the Legacy has the name, doesn’t mean they’re completely ready for the burden…or that they even want to shoulder it. The Legacy is all about balancing the advantages and benefits of their superheroic tradition with their own decisions and way of doing things. 

The Legacy is inspired by characters like Kid Flash (Young Justice), later versions of Robin or Batgirl like Tim Drake or Stephanie Brown, Wonder Girl/Cassie Sandsmark (Teen Titans), and Blue Beetle (Young Justice), among others. 

Playbook Spotlight: The Outsider 

“You’re not from here. Your home is an amazing place, full of beauty and wonder that these humans couldn’t even imagine. But at the same time… there’s something to them, something here that you’re missing back home. So…yeah, you’ll be hanging around. At least for now.”

The Outsider is an alien, or a time traveler, or an Atlantean, or a visitor from a parallel dimension, or whatever. They don’t quite get how things are here, but they’re interested in learning more. They have alien technology and tools, but their home will often interfere with their life, making requests or demands and visiting to check up on them. 

The Outsider is inspired by characters like Starfire (Teen Titans), Marvel Boy (Young Avengers), Miss Martian (Season One of Young Justice), and Magma (The New Mutants), among others. 

Here’s the whole team, hanging out on a roof top, playing some throw-ball, like you do in Halcyon City!

Playbook Spotlight: The Nova

“You’re a font of power. Will it hard enough, and you can remake the world into exactly whatever you want. It’s wonderful, to have all that power. And it’s terrifying. Lose control for even a second,  and 

other people will get hurt.”

The Nova is all about being the most powerful person around, and not really being in control. The playbook has a special mechanic for their powers, allowing them to do incredible things with ease, when they remain in control…but when they lose control, their powers will wreak havoc on the world around them.  

The Nova is inspired by characters like Jean Grey/Phoenix (X-men), Billy Kaplan/Wiccan (Young Avengers), Miss Martian (Season 2 of Young Justice), and Kenji Uedo/Zero (Generation Hope), among others.